mgo.licio.us

"The face of the operation is Briatore (referred to exclusively in the film by his colleagues and angry, chanting detractors as "Flavio"), an anthropomorphic radish who spends most of his time at QPR plotting to fire all of the managers."

At press time, Harbaugh had sent Michigan’s athletic department an envelope containing a heavily annotated seating chart, a list of the 63,000 seat views he had found unsatisfactory, and a glowing 70-page report on section 25, row 12, seat 9, which he claimed is “exactly what the great sport of football is all about.”

NW halftime adjustment

After reading Brian's defensive UFR yesterday, it seems perhaps some of us overhyped the "halftime adjustment" meme a bit. Maybe. But to be fair, more of the credit for the turnaround from the 14-24 deficit should go to.... me. I spent the first half cringing/watching the game in the back room at DC's Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle, where Michigan, I think, has lost every time I've ever watched in that location (don't ask... GF saved the seats, and it was that or stand in a corner). So I envisioned this postgame Hoke press conference:

We didn't play up to Michigan expectations today. But I also just found out some jackass in Washington DC who calls himself a Michigan fan watched the whole game from a spot he knows brings us bad luck. He's not a Michigan Man fergodsakes. He doesn't Get It.

Preventing this impending disaster needed bold, decisive action. I got up, didn't try reasoning with the GF, just explained we needed to go watch somewhere else, or they were gonna lose. So we cabbed it home just in time for the 2nd half kickoff, Michigan rolls 28-0 in the half, all is right with the world.

Even though most of the credit for the big half should go to me, I'm willing to share some credit with other people who, despite being generally well-educated and rational in most respects, turn hideously superstitious during games, assume they have some effect on the outcome, and make necessary adjustments when things are going poorly. Somebody else out there probably did something and deserves some credit. Changed to the right socks. Switched to the right side of the sofa. Switched to the non-HD version of BTN. Somethin'.

So, what was your halftime adjustment? If I have to explain, you obviously don't Get It.

I was watching it in a friend who lives nearby's apartment. I too got up and left at halftime and watched the team dominate the rest of the way... so no more leaving my apartment to watch away Michigan games this season.

I was at the game and brought my M jacket becaue I was convinced it would be chilly once the sun went down. It was kind of a hassle to hold, so I put it on AFTER our first td drive even though it wasn't even cold. At half time, it totally dawned on me that we basically played like crap while I was wearing it, so I took it off and BOOM 28-0. Never wearing that jacket at a game again. We'll call this a total team effort, guys.

My fraternity colors are scarlet and emerald, and I was actually watching a Michigan game wearing a shirt with letters on it for the first half (I was out of town, so that's my excuse) but at halftime, I let out a loud "fuck it" and went and put on my Tom Brady jersey. The girlfriends hipster friends at the University of Cincinnati kept shooting me awkward looks (like they don't ever wear anything odd) but I didn't care and the rest is history.

My son took off his Michigan ball cap and flopped it on the table at the half. After we scored in the second half he was going to put it on but I intervened. We had to reposition it as near to the original flopped position to recreate the butterfly effect.

I watched the first half at Mongolian Barbecue and got plenty of stares for my noticeable reactions to Denard's picks. Luckily, I traveled back home for the second half and watched my halftime adjustments pay off.

I'm not really superstitious, but at halftime I put a dime under my tongue, boiled goats testicles in vinegar and salt, shaved some hair off the neighbors cat and placed it underneath the doormat to my home, dripped hot wax on my left big toe, drank a concoction of licorice root/sage oil/dried thyme, and sacrificed 3 chickens because i was bored.

My wife thought my fingernails were too long. In fact, she was picking up on me and my fingernails for a few days by then. I am superstitious and I hated to do so, but I couldn't take it any more and had to cut them before the game started.

During the halftime, I dug up my trash can, picked them up, and placed them nicely in my Michigan mug cup. I think I own the thread.

Not so much superstitious, but I went to the game on Saturday, and at halftime I could no longer stand to listen to my buddy complaining about the offense, so I watched the second half from the entrance ramp to our section. I knew we would be alright in the second half, but he thought we were doomed.

After Denards third pick I switched from my Nike Mike Hart jersey to the Adidas #1 jersey. I also switched cushions on my couch. Unfortunately, I realized that I had brought a second variable into play which caused me anxiety until we had a good lead. This week my plan is to start on the second cushion with the #1 jersey and go from there. I apologize for my sloppy experimental design.

She will get up and leave the room to see if this will improve Michigan's play. If that doesn't work she will experiment with laying down, standing and positioning herself in other seats to find the best spot for us to win. I never gave this creedence, but I find myself wearing the same jersey every game so far this year because it's undefeated right now. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. (oh, and I realize this opens me up for a myriad of "mom" jokes, and that's ok. I kinda like mom jokes...)

Every year I buy a new Michigan shirt to wear for football season and as I do was doing things around the house..neglected to put it on for pregame, then when hooking my laptop up to my TV I spilled beer all over the keyboard which caused the track pad to start freaking out so needless to say I promptly went upstairs and put the shirt on..the rest is history.

While at the game, my brothers and wife yelled at the ignorant NW fan who was shouting obscenities about the fight song during the first half. We also did a no INT dance so Denard would stop making throws off his back foot.

The summation of all the fans voodoo seems to have created energy given to the team.

It's all about the negativity. So long as I refuse to believe, "it's different this year" we will win. I have data. Last year 5-0 followed by doom. I thus refuse to be optimistic and will bitch and moan every chance I get. All for The Team.

I'm gonna have to take the credit for this on since my halftime adjustment was to put on my away jersey at the same time the "team" was making a jersey change thus righting all that was wrong and leading Michigan to a 6-0 record.